So a couple of weekends ago, the LA Angels were in town for the first time ever, and I decided I had to go see them. I went online Saturday night and bought a $14 standing room only ticket for Sunday afternoon, June 22's game, printed it out at home no problem, and drove down to the ballpark around noon the next morning. The $11 for parking cost almost as much as the $14 ticket to get into the ballpark, but I always enjoy the ancitipation of walking across the lot and thinking about what might happen during that day's game:

Walked in at the usual entrance in left field, where the lineups are conveniently posted every day (just below the huge Phanatic), and walked around the concourse and down past the Wall of Fame, where the new plaque for the late John Vukovich (1947-2007), longtime player, coach, and lifelong Phillie now hangs.

I was lucky enough to meet Vuk during Phillies camp when i was a kid, way back in '94 and '95, and it's still hard to get used to seeing someone else coaching third base instead of his #18.

Then of course, I picked up some food before the ballgame. Chicken tenders and fries, plus a souvenir Sprite with a schedule on the cup, i've been getting the same thing since the days of the Vet and it still hits the spot. Then I found a good spot just behind home plate, to the first base side, at the supremely convenient ledges all around the ballpark that are designed for standing and watching a ballgame. This was the first time I'd seen the team wear those sharp looking new retro uniforms, as seen here on ace Cole Hamels.

There were several games I went to at the old Vet when I had wanted to see Vladimir Guerrero, the all-star outfielder for the Expos at the time, but for some reason or another he never played in any of them. One game in particular I remember he was supposed to be in right field and hit #4, cleanup, but we got to the ballpark and some guy named Matt Cepicky was in his spot...and playing his second major league game! Not cool!! Anyways, this weekend Vlad had just destroyed the Phillies, but fortunately for us Hamels was the only pitcher who kept him in the ballpark. Doesn't he look intimidated here?

The game itself was a good one, even though Angels pitcher Jered Weaver (who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers in his next start) was just a little better than Cole that day. Vlad had one single and scored a run, but Chase Utley had a hit to end his longest-in-his-career 24 at bat hitless streak, and got a massive standing ovation the crowd of, guess how many of us were there?

Unfortunately the Angels brought in their best relief pitcher, Francisco Rodriguez, also known as K-Rod since his rookie season of 2002, when it seemed like he struck out everybody he faced and he was a big reason the team won the World Series that year. As you can see, this was his 30th save of the season, a game when a relief pitcher comes in and protects a lead successfully, and he was more than halfway to the record of 57 by the middle of June!

And my favorite time of the game, the ballpark emptying out. For those few minutes I wait, not only does traffic clear up a bit in the parking lots, but as you can see it's just me and the maintenance crew, and maybe a few autograph seekers, left in the ballpark.

A spot in the shade on a warm sunny day, the Philly skyline in the background behind that clock in center field, and like always, the possibility that we'll get 'em next time. What else could you ask for from a day at the ballpark?

- Dan Sokil